Early Origin fever for Gong Oztag team

Wollongong Oztag players Joey Aiono, Daniel Parkes, Mikey Milaki and Keiron Duncan will take on Queensland in a three-game Origin series on Saturday in Canberra. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR

OZTAG

State of Origin fever has set in a few weeks early for the Wollongong over-35s Oztag team.

The Wollongong side arrived in Canberra on Friday, adding the finish touches to preparations for Saturday's State of Origin showdown with Queensland.

Wollongong earned the right to represent NSW after their State Cup win.

All three games in the annual series will be played on Saturday.

"The boys are really looking forward to it," Wollongong player Keiron Duncan said.

"Any opportunity you get to represent your state is a special occasion so we're certainly going into the series with a lot of excitement and pride. There's a genuine hunger among the players and coaches to beat the Queenslanders.

"Winning the State Cup was an obvious highlight for all of us. It'd be great to add the icing on the cake with a State of Origin victory.

"Our coach, Graham Seerey, deserves a lot of credit because he's done a fantastic job with us. Hopefully we can ... play the way we want to "